United States based organisation National Democratic Institute (NDI) is pressuring the Election Commission to relax some of the conditions of its observer policy for the parliamentary elections, EC officials said.
The officials alleged that it was in fact the local NGOs that were putting this pressure through NDI.
NDI has submitted a proposal to the EC suggesting that the age of observers be reduced to below 25, observers be allowed to observe the polls in their respective constituencies and that they be allowed into the polling centres.
The EC will issue a mass circular for election observers in the parliamentary elections after a meeting.
When asked about the matter, EC secretary Dr Mohammad Sadik said the existing policy for the election observer was standard.
“If it changes, the commission and election observers will both face trouble,” he said. The commissioner added however, that any views from the observers was welcome.
“If they can suggest anything better, the EC may consider it. The papers will be presented at the full commission meeting soon,” he added.
A senior EC official said if the commission reduced the age of observers, underage people might enlist their names for money. Besides, NGOs would take the advantage paying only Tk200 to underage observers instead of Tk500 for adult observers, the official said.
Besides, if they are allowed to observe in their own constituencies and polling centres, allegations of partiality may be raised, the official added.
In 2008 parliamentary elections, the EC allowed 120 NGOs to observe the polls.
The commission also gave permission to 20 foreign observing agencies.
About 1.6m foreign and local observers were appointed for observing the elections.
EC sources said around 2m observers may be appointed for the 10th parliamentary elections.
The EC is working to fix the criteria of NGOs who may observe the elections and will issue a mass circular after a full commission meeting, inviting applications from NGOs.
However, sources said 14 local NGOs have already applied to the EC for permission to observe the elections.